Ramp to Camp: Who's the largest menace to Celtics within the East?

Ramp to Camp: Who is the biggest threat to Celtics in the East? initially appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics completely shredded the Jap Convention final season.

Boston posted a 41-11 convention report throughout regular-season play, completed 14 video games away from their nearest rival (New York), then misplaced simply two video games over three playoff rounds earlier than hoisting the Bob Cousy Trophy.

That’s an .803 profitable share towards the East over an eight-month span.

A typical chorus this summer time is how the East got better. That looks as if a good suggestion based mostly on the big-swing strikes that some rivals made, or the expertise gained final season by the youthful groups within the convention. However it additionally appears honest to counsel that each one of Boston’s convention rivals have a reasonably sizable hole to shut based mostly on final season’s outcomes.

So which group is most probably to really push the Celtics in the course of the 2024-25 season? For Half 2 of our Ramp to Camp 2024 sequence, we requested our NBC Sports activities Boston panel to power-rank the highest 4 groups behind the Celtics within the Jap Convention. (Check out Part 1 of Ramp to Camp series here.)

Listed here are our preseason rankings of seeds 2 via 5:

Look, nobody at this community has slandered the Sixers extra over the previous half decade than this author, so slotting Philly right here ought to shock lots of people. However bear in mind two issues: 1) The 76ers made a big-splash addition this offseason and a couple of) They’ve that beefy large man who’s able to dominating a playoff sequence.

However sufficient about Guerschon Yabusele.

Jokes apart, we actually like what the Sixers did this summer time. Certain, their total ceiling hinges on Joel Embiid’s well being and whether or not he can rise up and down the court docket all through a big-time playoff sequence. However between the expansion from Tyrese Maxey, the addition of Paul George, and a few intriguing depth additions (we actually suppose Yabusele is able to assist an NBA group now), Philly has all of the items to be a legit thorn in Boston’s aspect.

These ain’t your Tobias Harris-era Sixers anymore.

Man, we actually wished to place the Pacers right here. They deserve a lot respect for the best way they pushed Boston, even in a four-game sweep. However it appears plain {that a} wholesome Knicks group is a minimize above Indiana based mostly on their veteran expertise.

New York added OG Anunoby final season, then swung large with the addition of Mikal Bridges this summer time. New York’s protection ought to be elite. There are holes to fill (the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein looms giant) however New York and its Villanova alumni group is an intriguing bunch.

4. Indiana Pacers

Each couple years a younger group storms to the convention finals, and we’re left to ponder if that squad is making the leap, or if it merely caught lightning in a bottle. (Hey there, 2021 Hawks!) The Pacers confirmed some critical grit final season. Boston simply might have been down 2-1 in that sequence if not for some big-time, late-game moments from Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday.

Indy nonetheless has areas the place it must develop, however there’s little purpose to consider that offense is coming again to earth any time quickly.

We merely can not dismiss Milwaukee, if solely as a result of a wholesome Giannis Antetokounmpo remains to be a beast. However the Bucks are a 12 months older and by no means seemed like a real contender for any sustained portion of final season.

Perhaps the Greek Freak goes supernova, nevertheless it’s laborious to check the Bucks having the ability to run with a few of these younger, fresh-legged groups within the East. We’re not able to leapfrog the Cavaliers or Magic forward of them … but. However the clock is ticking.

Right here is how our panel — which all ranked the Celtics No. 1 within the East — sees the convention’s subsequent 4 seeds getting into the 2024-25 season.

John Tomase: 2. Knicks, 3. Pacers, 4. 76ers, 5. Cavs

New York: Gotta hold everybody wholesome, but when they do, Knicks are an issue, particularly with defensive stopper Mikal Bridges within the combine.

Indiana: Do not make that face. Indy gave Boston its hardest sequence final 12 months, even when it led to a sweep. That offense is legit.

Philadelphia: Paul George is outdated and I’m not offered on the NBA’s newest “tremendous group.”

Cleveland: Dimension up entrance and pace within the backcourt, however let’s be actual — none of those groups measure as much as the C’s.

Tom Giles: 2. 76ers, 3. Bucks, 4. Knicks, 5. Pacers

Philadelphia: The addition of Paul George helped shut the hole.

Milwaukee: Individuals are sleeping on the Bucks, who ought to be motivated after an early exit.

New York: You recognize they will play laborious and defend, however I am not as excessive on the Nova-Knicks as most individuals are.

Indiana: They received the expertise of taking part in within the East Finals and now have a full season with Pascal Siakam.

Mark Hazlett: 2. Bucks, 3. 76ers, 4. Cavs, 5. Pacers

Milwaukee: They’re outdated, however Giannis looms.

Philadelphia: I am unable to consider it both.

Cleveland: They’ve Donovan Mitchell and the items to make a transfer.

*Indiana: That offense is frightening.

*Insert Knicks followers trying round like Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction.

Darren Hartwell: 2. Knicks, 3. 76ers, 4. Bucks, 5. Pacers

New York: Mikal Bridges ought to make New York even higher on protection after rating second within the NBA final season, and commerce deadline acquisition OG Anunoby seems to be like a critical difference-maker when wholesome.

Philadelphia: The trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George ought to be sufficient to energy this group previous 50 wins … and one other second-round playoff exit.

Milwaukee: Do not sleep on Damian Lillard, who has a full offseason in Milwaukee underneath his belt and ought to be extra snug within the Bucks’ offense. However there’s merely not sufficient depth right here to take this group significantly.

Indiana: The offense is legit, and Tyrese Haliburton is a future celebrity. The Pacers have to make nice strides defensively in the event that they wish to get again to the ECF, although.

Justin Leger: 2. 76ers, 3. Knicks, 4. Bucks, 5. Warmth*

*Not within the common season, however within the playoffs if Miami is wholesome.

Nick Goss: 2. Knicks, 3. 76ers, 4. Bucks, 5. Pacers

Kevin Miller: 2. 76ers, 3. Bucks, 4. Knicks, 5. Cavs